Wearing apparel



G. F. LANG WEARING APPAREL Feb. 6, 1945.

Filed Feb. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1945. G. F. LANG WEARINGAPPAREL Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1945. s. F. LANGWEARING APPAREL Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s Sheets-sheaf 5 Patented Feb. 6,1945 UNITED STATES RATE o ss v 23/368,714 t .v

W AE GA R L! or e F Lang, J enki t w a ApplicationFebruary 4; 1941;Serial1Nor377;288:

1 Claim, (star et The present invention relates-to certain new anduseful: wearing apparel and it relates more particularly to certain new,and useful combination. garments including a knitted, leg-encasing'stocking, adapted for use with a body-encircling support andlongitudinally elastic connectors -detachably interconnecting saidstocking and sup port;

One of the objects of thepresent:- invention is a more comfortable andmore serviceable and durable hosiery and: hosiery Lsupport whereby-hmsiery; particularly; full length -stockings may, be more effectivelysupported and retained on. the leg with minimum strain on the knittedfabric of= the body of the: stocking and with maximum protection to theknitted fa briclof'the 'body of the stocking against damaging strains;tears and runs. Another object of' therpresent invention is to providea) stocking for use with a suitablesupport and providingthe greatestphysical comfort to the wearer as well as presenting a neat. 3113-.-Dearance.

Other objects and-purposes of the present invention are apparent in: thefollowing detailed description and appendedr-claimand in the accom-.panying drawings. V

For th purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown intheaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at presentupreferred:al:-; though, it is to be understood; that, the; variousinstrumentalitie of-which theinventionconsists; can bevariously-arranged and:organizediandzthat the invention is not limitedto, the precisejan, rangements and organizations of; the; in-strumen:talities as herein shown and described;

Referring to the drawings in.-Which likere ference characters indicatelike partsthroughout;

Figure 1' represents a; perspective view of "one phaseorembodiment ofthe: present inventioni'as it appears in actual use. i v v Figure 2represent a fragmentar perspective view on a; somewhat enlarged scale ofY the upper; partaof the stockin-g- 'shown. in Figure 1 Figure 3represents a fragmentaryview, inelee vation, of the! detail of theconstruction shown generally: at 3rin Figure 2, but on a' fuzthenenr.larged scale, i l

Figure 4 represents a verticalcross-sectional view-along theline;4+-.-4- ofi-Figure 3; showingthe snap-fastener female member, orsocket-member carried by; the stocking and showing: a snap fastenermalememberor knobemember carried:

' the/connector; the twomembers-beingshown dc;

tached from each other, t

fi ure a rep esentsa; v tical: cre sv sstipm viewsimilar to that shownin Figurefl; but? in whichthe twp parts; making -upthe' snap-fasten enfemale member J on socket-memberare disas- Sam-bled,- and with theelasticband intermediate the-two. 1 Figure 6 represents a perspectiveview; on an enlargedscale ofthe two parts'malging'upthe snap-fastenerfemale member shoWninFigure S: Figure 7 representsa fragmentary; moreorless schematic elevational v-iew of 'thestitch forma tion indicatedgenerally'at |--in*Figurv2} Figure 8 representsan enlarged elevationalview of the adjoining portions". of the. support; connectors, andstocking shown generally-ah 8 in Figure 1- V I Figure- 9 i represents aview similar to that of Eigure 8- butshowingthe several parts as theyappear-when disassembled: i Figure- 10 represents amo-re on lessdiagrammatic cross-sectional view; on an enlarged scale taken generally onthelinei NI -m oi -Figures 1 orionthe -1ine -|.0'--l0of F igure 8i TFigure 111 represents a fragmentary perspece tive: view. oftheembodiment s'hown-inFiguret 1- but shown disassociate d from the body,of? the wearer and merely- .in: an assembled: condition:

Figure 12 represents asmoreior rlassidiagrame. matic or. schematictopmlan views-oi thei wearing apparelshown in Figurerll, takengenerally? thelinev |?;?l2 oflEigureell.

In one phase of: the; present: inuention. I? may;

provide alfullt-fashionedz sheer hose ldshavingl a. footportion 20; alegit portion.;2zli and an upper, stocking portion 2:2: which maybe amore onless distinct welt or merely an upper leg portionofi slightlyheavier yarn (silk; rayon nylons on the like) than thetyam, of;whichjthe nest Oflthfimdm isiknitted. v

An uppe most, annular.- band; 23; or r atively; elastic. a-ndrelatively; more durah mat r al:- s" more rlesstin e allx onne ted; witsemi-welt; like upper port o 5 s liownrifl igur 3 1; prefer to constructsaid annular band so th'at it has the lon i udi al cir umiereni al:elasticit butidces not have t an verse r. ie lzslesii a 1w..- rheionitudinai Q i Qu-mi rc a1 ela tic-l 2t i h a, aza- 1in para el ees e l yV913? "i959:

issqsfid strand ht. which: are immense;

1 porated into the band 23. The elastic strands are held togethertransversely by cotton, silk, nylon, rayon or like textile threadsintertwined or interlaced therewith by weaving, braiding or knitting.The spacing between the rubber strands is such as to permit the prongs31 of the metallic fastener or anchorage ring 36, to be hereinafterdescribed, to pass between the rubber strands I'l Without cutting orpiercing them. The construction shown in Figure 3 permits acircumferential stretchin without any diminution in the transverse widthof the band 23 as would result if a braided material were used.

I prefer to connect said annular band 23 to said portion 22 by stitchingindicated particularly in Figure 7; the portion 22 being placed so thatits uppermost edge extends within the lowermost edge of the band 23.Stitching passing through juxtaposed points of said portion 22 and saidband 23 may be formed by a threeneedle-machine through which thestocking is passed with the outer face of the band 23 uppermost. Thethree needles form three annular courses of chain stitches passingthrough said band 23 in said portion 22 and forming parallel v annularcourses of loops l3, M, and I upon the inner surface of the portion 22and forming parallel annular portions |3a, I l-a, and |5--a upon theouter surface of the band 23. Another thread 5 is shuttled back andforth through the loops |3,- l4 and I5 beneath the portion 22 to providechain stitching passing over and through each of said loops 13,, M, andI3 and serving to anchor said loops againstbeing pulled out, as shown inFigure 7.

" I prefer to construct the lower portion of said band 23 so that itcontains three longitudinally disposed elastic strands 24, 25 and 26.The-lowermost strand 26 is preferably placed at the lowermost edge ofthe band 23; the strand 24 being uppermost and the strand 25 beingintermediate strands24 and 26. As shown in Figure '7, the row ofstitches forming the loops I3 is placed just belowthe strand 24, the rowof stitches forming the loops [4 isplaced along the strand 25 and therow'of stitchesforming the loop i5 is placed just above the strand 26. l:3: I have found that by attaching said band 23 to said portion. 22, inthemanner above-described, it is possible to provide a simple andinexpensive connection between said band 23 and said portion 22 as wellas one which is durable and which will transmit a minimum of supporterstrain to the relatively less durable leg portion 2|. The elastic band23 carries, permanently united therewith, one or more circumferentiallydistributed snap-fastener female members or socket members 26; thesemembers 23 being held to the band 23 without any hole cut through saidband 23 and without any sewing to the band as would tend to weaken andlessen the life of said band 23.

Said snap-fastener female member 28 includes a female engaging unit ordetachable coupling unit 29 and a more or less permanent fabricanchorageunit or backing or affixing unit 35.

The female coupling or engaging unit 29 consists of a central resilientknob-receiving socket 3B and an annular,inwardly-enlarged, peripheralanchorage channel 3 I.

generally at a right angle to the plane of said ring 36, as shown inFigures 5 and 6.

'In the affixing of the female socket member 28 to the fabric, theengaging unit 29' is placed on one side of the fabric (preferably theinside) of said band 23, and the backing or affixing unit is placed onthe other side of said fabric with the pointed prongs 3'! extendingtowards the fabric. When the two units are pressed together, the prongs31 of the backing unit 35 pass throwghthe fabric by spreading thethreads apart and passing between the threads or fibres thereof, withouttearing, cutting or otherwise injuring said fabric (merely pushing thethreads apart from each other) and, having passed through the fabric,are bent into position and anchored within the peripheral anchoragechannel 3| of the member 29. In this way, the female socket member 23may be aifixed to the band 23 without cutting the elastic strands IT andwithout cutting the transverse fabric strands.

The female or socket member 28 on the stocking can be detachably unitedwith a corresponding male or knob member 32 on a connector 30, bycausing the knob of the male member 32 to enter and to be detachablyheld within the knobreceiving socket 3B 'of the female member L8. v

The knob-receiving socket 30 of said female member 28 is made slightlyresilient in its periphsocket 30; the resiliency of the metal tendingalways to contract and restore the periphery;

' The 'malemember or knob member 32, as shown on the right-hand 'side ofFigure 4," is of a modified form of construction in which the knobportion 33 is not provided with a prong-receiving peripheral anchoragechannel, but instead, a

40 backing plate 38 is provided with a central tubular; portion 49 drawntherefrom or extending therefrom which cuts through the fabric (as forinstance the fabricof the connector 40 in Figure 4)' and is spread outinto the interior of the knob 34 of the knob portion 33 therebypermanently to hold the knob portion 33 to the fabric. w-

It is also possible to provide said band 23-with male engaging members.(not shown) which'are provided with pronged backing units and maleengaging units similar in constructionto the femalemembers'28 but havinga knob in place of the socket 3|]. In'such instance, of course, a femaleengaging unit 28 would be provided on the v engaging member on theconnector 40 (to be used The backing or affixing unit 35 consists'of arelativelythin, annular ring 36 having a plurality of thin,- bent outpointed prongs 31 extending from the inner peri-phery'of said annularring 36,

with" the female unit 28 upon the band 23) when it is desirable to avoidcutting the fabric of the connector 40. I I

Whilethe detachable coupling herein shown and described possessescertain advantages peculiar to the wearing apparel of the present invention, and is therefore'preferred by me, yet other quick-detachablesnap-type couplings may be used, provided the annular elastic band 23 isnot cut or ruptured or otherwise weakened thereby and provided thefabric is gripped "or pressed between opposite pressure plates havingsubstantial contact area with the fabric surfaces.

I prefer to knit the upper leg portion 2'2"-of the stocking of aslightly heavier yarnthan thatof the main leg portion 2|, as indicatedmore par-. tioularly in Figuresl, 2 and 3.'

Thus, if the main legportion of the stocking is. three-thread? or:four-threadj" (that of three-thread or four-threadsilk; rayon .onnylon); Iip-refer to knit the portion22 .-of*a,=heavierxyarn, asiforinstance asixto tenthreadsilk(or rayon or nylon). V.

I prefer to construct said portion; 221 of; a heavier yarn toimakeitmore durable and to minimize the, possibility of: runs or. tears onother injuries developing in the main leg portion 21: It' is. possible,however, to affix saidbandi231zdijrectly tothe main leg portion.2l.without:, any intervening portion,22;

Byreason of thezfactthat the faster-carrying or. coupling-carrying band.23* is. relatively more firm and more form-retaining than the'stocking'(either the leg portion ortheupper-legportion or the welt portion) andby. reason of the fact that: the fastener-carrying orv coupling-carryingband- 23: extends; continuously around the; upper periphery of thestocking-(instead ofzbeing inter! rupted or insteadof'beingfragmentary), the pull of the connector-endsat one, two, three or. fourpointsalong the band 23. is transmitted to the stocking with a moreuniform distribution around the'circumference ofthe stocking. Thus, theupward pull at any one of the fastener or coupling points of the band 23is not only transmitted to the stocking at that point, but istransmitted over a wide area on either side of said point, because ofthe relatively greater firmness or formretaining character of the band23, and because of the fact that the band itself closely hugs the leg ina continuous annular formation and is held taut under somecircumferential tension, when in use.

The body-encircling member 52, shown particularly in Figure l, iscircumferentially elastic, that is, elastic in the direction of thearrows 54, namely, in the same direction in which the bands 23 areelastic.

The upper annular body-encircling member 52, with which the stocking ofthe present invention is adapted to be used, is preferably formed ofknitted fabric with the courses disposed generally horizontally, thatis, extending circumfer entially around the body (in the direction ofthe arrows 54) and with'wales extending generally vertically (in thedirection of the arrows 58), and the member 52 may be circular knitted(that is, formed on a circular knitting machine) and may be formed on adouble bank of needles with a double rib knit formation so as toincrease its circumferential stretchability. By inlaying' a rubber orother elastic thread in the member, 52in more or less circular, spacezones, with the elastic threads extending circumferentially and held inplace by the knitted textile threads thereof, the member 52 can be madeto hug the body more firmly and thus give better support forthe lowerelastic bands 23 and hence to the stocking therebeneath.

Said member 52 is preferably formed with transverse or verticalelasticity in the direction of the arrows 58 as well as circumferentialelasticity to give a two-way stretch to increase the comfort and supportgiven to the wearer.

The member 52 may be made seamless, that is, in the form of anuninterrupted annulus.

I prefer to provide said member 52 with a plurality ofdownwardly-depending closed loops 55 having longitudinal elasticity inthe direction of the arrows 58 and being aflixed to the lower edge ofthe member 52 by stitching or other suitable fastening means.

- The: connector: 48,-sisl preferablw formed with a;. loopedzportionl41(carryingithezknob member bar 4420f: a'rigidlconnecting; memben45: the

. loops 4| and 42 being-'closedsby-istitching:14-3:.

The; rigidt member 45; as; shown. in: Figures BeandrQ; containsaslowemportion inzthe form iof a; closed loop -:ofFwhich:the1.bar-4.4risnthe: base and contains: upperarm. 46 l which extends 1 from the loopat one end thereoffbut whichds, separated from-lthe =loop at the other:en-dLthereof; as at: 41, to permitt the insertion of said member 45 intothe: loop 55l The unconnected end of the: arm4fi'iisapreferably.turnedidoWnwardlv-and inwardly asat: I39:

When the rigid-member- 45-:is inserted within the loopa'55; -thearm4lipasses inside the loop and comes out ongthe other side thereofso thatthe turned-down end I 39- encloses the loop- 55 and prevents theaccidental slipping out of" the member 45 from the loop 55? Inthis-way';the connector- 4| may-be readily; attached to ,or -detached "from-theloop 552 whendesired;

' The connector; 48 is preferably formed of ordinary fa'briewithoutany-added elasticityalthough it is possible to construct said connector40 with vertical elasticity.

Since the knob member 32 is fastened within the outer face of the loop4|, the back face of said loop is interposed between the backing unit 35of said member 32 and the leg of the wearer, thus preventing undesirablecontact of the metal of the fastener 32 with the leg.

While I prefer to employ the loops 55, the rigid connecting member 45and the connectors 40 to form a connection between the supporter 52 andthe stocking, other methods of forming such connection are contemplatedand are within the is, four for each stocking) or that said stockingcould be provided with two snap fastener members 28 (front and back)instead of four. Other possibilities are apparent and are contemplated.

Thus, it is possible to provide three symmetrically disposed members 28about the band 23 of each stocking and to provide six complementary connectors 40 upon the'member 52.

By disposing the connectors 40 symmetrically in relation to the medianplane of the stocking,

the rear seam 14 of the stocking is centered more uniformly on the legof the wearer, that is, centered in the vertical median plane of theleg. I prefer to distribute the fastening members symmetrically aboutthe band 23 so that either stocking may be worn on either leg; that is,so that there will be no right or left to the pai'rof stockings. I

The socket members 28 are comparatively thin so that they he more orless flush in the plane of the relatively thick materialof which thebend 23 is formed; extending therefrom only to a slight extent, asindicated particularly in the left-hand side of Figure 4. Moreover asthe fabric of the band 23 is gripped or pressed'from opposite sidesbetween substantially wide annular'pressing faces The annular elasticband 23'is preferably over-- lapped slightly at the back end of thestocking as l at 16, with the overlapping edges sewn as at 11 v and 18and'with the back fastening member 28 transfixing the overlap 16.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiments 1 be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing de- 1 scription to indicatethe scopeof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is 1 hereby claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is: r

A womans sheer full-length stocking comprising a foot portion, a sheerknitted leg por- 1 tion, an annular strain-distributing band of.relatively more durable, fabric disposed about the oragripping faces,the pull on the coupling member is better transmitted to the fabric withless strain on the individual threads." I l between the thread thereofsubstantially without upper periphery of'said leg portion andpermanently connected therewith by stitching including a plurality ofparallel annular courses-of chain stitches passing through therespective circumferentially relatively elastic and transversely orvertically relatively inelastic and being adapted to stretchcircumferentially without any great diminution of its transverse orvertical di-.

inension, a plurality of snap-fastener members symmetrically disposedabout and generally permanently afiixed to said annularstrain-distributing band, said snap-fastener members comprising anengaging unit and a backing unit having thin prongs transfixing saidband by passing cutting or tearing the threads, said prongs beingpermanently interlocked within said engag ing unit.

- GEORGE F. LANG.

